BikeSnobNYC's Guide to Cyclocross

Buying a Cyclocross Bike

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Not too long ago, if you wanted an off-the-rack cyclocross bike, your options were limited to just a few offerings from a handful of manufacturers. Now, cyclocross is growing faster than Dave Zabriskie's off-season facial hair, which means pretty much every company is selling a variety of cyclocross bikes, including do-everything steel models and carbon pro-race replicas.

This is good because it means more choices for you, but it's bad because it means that by the time you've finished comparing component specs and bottom-bracket heights and frame weights and price tags and all the rest of it, cyclocross season will be over and custody of the park where they hold your local races will return to the picnickers. And while it may be fun to use picnic baskets as barriers, nobody appreciates a Sidi in their bologna sandwich.

The most important thing to keep in mind when buying a cyclocross bike is that they all look, weigh, and ride pretty much the same when they're covered in mud.